Chief Justice Of J&K and Ladakh HC To Judicial Officers: “Don’t Offer Gifts To Visiting High Court Judges”

Shivani Thakur

Published on: June 23, 2022 at 15:49 IST

The visiting Chief Justice and High Court Judges are not to be received, seen off, taken on trips, booked into hotels, provided with meals, or given gifts, according to a circular issued by the High Court of J&K and Ladakh.

A senior non-judicial Administrative Officer must receive, see off, or provide other protocol to a visiting Chief Justice or High Court judge in accordance with the rules.

Moreover, holding meetings or other official calls with judicial officers, if the visiting High Court judges desire is to be done before or after the court hours.

The circular reads, “If arrangement in connection with an official visit of Hon’ble Chief Justice/Hon’ble Judges is required to be made by the District Judge or Chief Judicial Magistrate, all the bills shall be raised in the name of and the payment shall be made directly by the Hon’ble High Court to the extent permitted and no personal funds will be used by any Judicial Officer for this purpose.”

Judicial officers are also not permitted to host events while High Court Judges are in town. The rules state that if there are written instructions, the government may organise the official functions at its expense.

The recommendations continue to limit the practise of giving judicial officers the responsibility of liaison officers. The circular states that the Senior Administrative Officer, Mobile Magistrate, or Leave Reserve Officer shall be responsible for carrying out this obligation.

According to the circular, the violation of guidelines will be treated as “gross misconduct” and can warrant disciplinary action against the erring judicial officer.

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